4 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 5, 1891. 
went — and it must be admitted to be some¬ 
what extensive—he naturally restricted his 
attention to the autumn-blooming section, 
of which he, as an Amateur, is such an 
aimirable grower. Through the aid of 
Messrs. Kelway & Son, and Mr. Burrel 1 , 
both of whom are trade growers in a large 
way, there was presented to the visitors to 
the Drill Hall at the same time a very fine 
show of Gladioli spikes, as good perhaps 
as will be seen anywhere this season. 
But in spite of the fact that we have 
such superb varieties in cultivation and in 
commerce, that these Gladioli can be easily 
grown as Mr. D'Ombrain was enabled to 
testify, and also because they occupy but 
very limited space in the garden, yet. they 
are but moderately grown. This section of 
the Gladioli will never become popular for 
market purposes. It blooms at the wrong 
time of the year, and the spikes of bloom 
do not accommodate themselves with any 
degreeof conveniencetoordinary decorative 
uses. If, however, we turn to the early or 
summer-blooming section—which it must 
be admitted do not win prizes at exhibi¬ 
tions—we find in the market trade a most 
popular class of flowers in the Colvillei 
section, especially the white and pink 
varieties. These never come into competi¬ 
tion separately as Gladioli, but only in 
groups of cut flowers, or in vases or 
epergnes, for which uses these light graceful 
flowers befit admirably. 
There is all the more use in calling 
attention to these forms just now because 
the time for planting is at hand. Out of 
doors in good deep soil the roots of the 
Colvillei, Cardinalis and Byzantine forms 
should be planted in October, whilst for 
pot culture roots should be got in from 
September till Christmas, so as to secure a 
forced supply all through the early winter 
and spring. For uses so important as 
these the autumn-blooming or Show 
varieties are of no service. They make 
grand displays now. That is all very well, 
but when in the winter and spring beautiful 
flowers are scarce, then the early-blooming 
Gladioli are invaluable. 
To our Readers. — With the present number, which 
marks the commencement of our eighth volume, we 
present the index to volume seven, and take this 
opportunity of tendering our warmest thanks to the 
very many kind friends who by their valued contri¬ 
butions have greatly helped us to make the contents 
of that volume of wide-spread interest among the 
gardening community. Our best thanks are also due 
to those (and they are many too) \vho, appreciating 
our efforts to provide gardeners with a weekly budget 
of useful, practical information on all subjects 
connected with their calling at a popular price, have 
exercised their influence among their gardening 
friends in promoting the circulation of the paper, 
and so have greatly assisted in extending its sphere 
of usefulness during the past year. We thank them 
all most cordially, and hope we may continue to 
deserve a continuance of such valued support. It 
will have been observed by our friends that we have 
lately been located in temporary offices, but we are glad 
to announce that the inconvenience will only be of 
short duration, as at the end of the month we shall be 
established in more suitable premises than before at 
i, Clement's Inn, Strand. 
Mr. John Docherty, Fruit and Plant Foreman at 
Erskine House, Glasgow, has been engaged as gar¬ 
dener to John Stewart, Esq., Ballec’nin,Tullypowrie, 
Perthshire. 
The Diamond Back Moth is reported to have made 
a descent upon the east coast of Scotland, and the 
sea gulls are helping to clear it off. 
Mr. Samuel Brad I ay, for many years gardener at 
Elton Manor, Notts, and the raiser of Sir Joseph 
Paxton, Dr. Hogg, Amateur, Oscar, and other 
Strawberries, died on the 17th ult. at Littledales, 
in the same county. 
Preston and Fulwood Horticultural Society. — The 
usual monthly meeting of this Society will be held 
in the Legs of Man Hotel, Fishergate, Preston, this 
(Saturday) evening, when Mr. Alfred Waters, of the 
Gardens, Hopw’ood Hall, Middleton, will read a 
paper on “ The Use and Abuse of Watering and 
Syringing.” 
Mr. John Richardson, general foreman to Mr. 
Temple at Carron House, Falkirk, has been engaged 
as gardener to Lord Torphicken, Calder House, 
Mid Calder. 
The Late Mr. H. J. Buchan’s Collection of Orchids 
will be sold at Messrs. Protheroe & Morris's Rooms 
on September 25. 
Mr. Edward Horne, late general foremanat Preston 
Hall, Dalkeith, has been engaged as gardener to H. 
Senhouse, Esq., Netherall, Maryport. 
Mr. Alexander Smith, late gardener at Wheatlands 
House, Bonnybridge, has been engaged as gardener 
to J. A. Platt, Esq., Eishken House, Stornoway, 
N. B. 
The Annual Trade Autumn Sales of greenhouse and 
other winter flowering plants conducted by Messrs. 
Protheroe & Morris will take place on the following 
dates:—September nth, Messrs. Roberts Bros., 
East Grinstead ; September 14th, Mr. H. B. May’s, 
Edmonton; September 15th, Messrs. B. Mailer & 
Sons, Burnt Ash Lane, Lee ; September 16th, Mr. 
John Fraser, Lee Bridge; September 17th, Mr. John 
Mailer, Enfield Highway. 
Death of Mrs. J. W. Thomson. —We regret to hear 
of the sudden death, from failure of the heart's action, 
on August 4th, of Lydia, wife of Mr. J. W. 
Thomson, of Hortulan Lodge, Hayward’s Heath, 
aged eighty years. Mr. Thomson, who was gardener 
to George III., and to the Duke of Northumberland 
at Sion House, some sixty or more years ago, has 
himself attained a great age, and his many friends 
will sincerely sympathise with him in his bereave¬ 
ment. 
The Gale in Yorkshire— B. L. writes:—The gale 
on the 25th and 26th ult. was one of the severest 
experienced for many years. Forest and fruit trees 
have been uprooted and limbed, as well as denuded 
of fruit, and the foliage battered. Main and late 
cropping Peas and Scarlet Runner Beans look as if 
they had passed through several degrees ot frost. 
Cabbages and winter Greens look as if someone had 
been trying to screw their necks round. Chrysan¬ 
themums, Dahlias, and Sunflowers have snapped off 
at the ligatures. Indeed, the sight presented after 
the gale was enough to make the stoutest heart 
quail. 
The Mustard Bug is reported to be exhibiting itself 
in an extraordinary degree in the Crowland and Deep¬ 
ing St. Nicholas districts of Lincolnshire. At Deep¬ 
ing near Spalding, a field of Mustard was cut which 
was badly infested, and as soon as the crop was down 
the Mustard bugs were to be seen crossing the roads in 
millions. They devoured everything in the people's 
gardens and made their way into the houses, and had 
to be swept out with brushes. The farmers at Crow- 
land also report that the Mustard bug is becoming a 
dreaded plague. 
An Italian Fruit Market in Hatton Garden. —A dis¬ 
tinctly new departure, says a daily paper, is about 
to be made in the fruit trade in England, and one 
which will have a most injurious effect upon the 
English growers. It seems that the vineyards of 
Southern Italy have yielded such extraordinary 
crops that the fruit is actually being used for 
manure. It has occurred to the Italian Government 
that something might be done in the way of 
establishing a fruit market in London at which 
Italian fruits could be sold, and accordingly Hatton 
Garden, which is the centre of the Italian colon}', 
has been selected for the initiatory part of the experi¬ 
ment. Fruit will be sent across weekly by the Anglo 
Steam Navigation Company’s vessels, and will be 
retailed at Hatton Garden to Italian subjects, to 
whom the Italian Government will make small grants 
for the purchase of vehicles to take their purchases 
round the metropolis in the same way as they now 
take their ice-cream barrows round the suburbs. 
Aster Novas-angliae pulchella. —The flower heads 
of this) form are large, blue shaded with purple, 
and produced in flattish corymbs terminating the 
stems, which are 3 ft. to 4 ft. high, and flower much 
earlier than those of the variety A. n.-a. rubra. The 
latter has very tall stems, rose or red flowers pro¬ 
duced in a more elongated raceme or panicle. All of 
the above may be seen in the gardens of the Royal 
Horticultural Society at Chiswick, where they are 
now flowering. 
THE INTERNATIONAL 
SHOW AT EDINBURGH. 
Ox Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday next the 
Great International Fruit and Flower Show to be 
held in the Waverly Market, Edinburgh, will provide 
a great fund of interest and attraction for horticul¬ 
turists from all parts of the Kingdom, and more 
especially for our Scottish friends, who know so well 
how to carry out exhibitions of this kind, and to 
appreciate their great value as a means of promoting 
the advancement of horticulture. This is the fifth 
great exhibition which has been organised by Scottish 
horticulturists, the previous ones having been held in 
1863, 1869, 1875, and 1883, and it is gratifying to 
know that the show to be held next week promises to 
eclipse all the others both in extent, the range of 
subjects to be exhibited, and the value of the prizes 
to be awarded. 
We learn as we go to press that the demand for 
copies of the schedule has been unprecedented, show¬ 
ing the keen interest which is taken in the matter by 
exhibitors in almost every county in the United 
Kingdom. The entries, which closed on Wednesday, 
also show a marked advance on the numbers at 
previous displays of the same kind. It may almost 
be taken for granted that Grapes will be the leading 
feature in the fruit section, although not so distinctly 
prominent as at the previous " Internationals,’’ owing 
to the greater amount of attention that has been 
paid beyond the Tweed to improvement in the cul¬ 
tivation of other fruits in recent years. Hardy fruits 
especially will be a fine feature doubtless, as we 
understand that, beyond the house-grown fruits, 
several of the large southern growers have intimated 
their intention of exhibiting. Vegetables, and 
especially Potatos, for which handsome prizes are 
offered, are likely to be shown in unprecedentedly 
great numbers, and they are usually of great ex¬ 
cellence at Edinburgh. 
We may add for the information of intending ex¬ 
hibitors and visitors, that all exhibits must be staged 
by 8 o'clock on Tuesday evening, so that the judges 
will have a clear course when they commence their 
arduous duties at 6 o’clock on Wednesday morning. 
Gardeners will be admitted as usual at 9 a.m., and 
the exhibition will be opened at 12 o'clock by the Rt. 
Honorable Viscount Melville. May the weather be 
propitious, and the measure of success a bumper ! 
WHAT IS A FRUIT OR A 
VEGETABLE ? 
“ J. F.” asks, What is a Fruit and what is a Vege¬ 
table ? Answer. All plants in the vegetable kingdom 
produce fruit. Of such fruits some (1) are regarded 
and used as fruit proper, and are consumed raw with 
pleasure to the sense of taste, or in pies or tarts, pre¬ 
serves or jam, or in sauces, and are popularly called 
Fruit. (2) Other fruits are usually consumed cooked, 
with or without flesh meats, as Potatos [?J, Tomatos, 
&c., and are usually consumed in the earlier stages of 
the principal meal of mankind, to wit, dinner, and are 
popularly termed Vegetables. Vegetable Marrows come 
under this head, and Cucumbers too, as forming part of 
salads, or as consumed with fish. Melons are fruit. 
Fruit appears mostly at the end of a feast as dessert. 
Examples :—Potatos go with almost all meats. 
Tomatos may be eaten raw as an apple, if you like, 
and if you like it you may call them Love Apples, but 
chops and Tomato sauce is a more typical form of 
consumption. I call Tomatos vegetables. Would 
anyone suggest rump-steak and Cherries, or Peaches, 
or Pine Apples ? Olives, perhaps, are the only 
puzzlers. They improve some fricassees and ragouts, 
and they are eaten alone at dessert. Qutere to im¬ 
prove the taste of wine, or immorally (ehem !) to 
provoke a thirst for more v'ine. The decision of 
what is a vegetable or what a fruit may at shows be 
left to the common sense of the judges, whether 
Market Gardeners or Amateurs.— Francis. 
Your correspondent ‘‘J. F.” leaves this still an 
open question so far as the Tomato is concerned, 
and it would settle a vexed question as to the admis¬ 
sion or not of the Tomato in a collection of Fruit, if 
a general understanding could be arrived at and the 
question solved for the guidance of judges in the 
future. I know of a recent instance when a collec¬ 
tion of Fruit W'as disqualified by able practical 
gardeners, on the ground that the Tomatos staged in 
the collection were vegetables, and this opinion was 
very generally upheld by several horticulturists 
